Northwest Health Hosts Annual NICU Reunion on Sept. 23
9/17/2018
(SPRINGDALE, AR) –Sept. 17, 2018— On Sunday, Sept. 23 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Willow Creek Medical Office Building the Northwest Health Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) will host its annual reunion, bringing “graduates”’ of the NICU and their families back together with the physicians and staff who fought so hard to help them to survive and thrive.
“The NICU reunion is an opportunity for the children and parents to come back and celebrate,” said Neonatologist Bo Lin, M.D. “After we have spent so much time together, we are like family and the reunion gives us all a chance to commemorate what we have gone through together.”
The Reese family was one of the many families who have a lot to celebrate. Adam and Becky’s triplets were born prematurely at 30 weeks. Alie Ana weighed 2 pounds, 7 ounces, Alexandra weighed 3 pounds and Mila weighed 3 pounds, 1 ounce. The babies spent 55 days in the NICU at Willow Creek Women’s Hospital. All of the children are thriving so much today that it’s difficult to imagine that they were ever at risk.
“The NICU team became my family as they took care of our babies … and us,” said Becky Reese. “In fact, I still talk with Juli, the occupational therapist who helped us. The experience was incredible. While I would never wish the NICU for anyone, I would hope everyone got to experience what we did. We are so thankful for the friendships made and are looking forward to seeing everyone at the NICU reunion!”
Northwest Health has treated more than 3,200 of Northwest Arkansas, Northeast Oklahoma and Southwest Missouri’s most delicate patients – babies who have weighed less than 2 pounds at birth, or babies whose systems need constant help to function.
In 2015, Northwest Health expanded their NICU services to the Benton County market allowing newborns that require additional care after delivery to remain in the area closer to their family during the hospitalization and recovery process.
At the NICU, board-certified neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners and neonatal nurses along with social workers and respiratory, physical, occupational and speech therapists work as a team to provide the extra attention these babies need.
Northwest Health is well-equipped and ready to care for very special needs infants with the most critically ill babies receiving care at a one-nurse-to-one-baby ratio. Northwest Health pairs technologically advanced neonatal care with a warm, family centered approach providing a safe and caring environment for these babies.
Benefits of the NICU include:
- Level III neonatal intensive care unit in Northwest Arkansas
- Board certified neonatologists
- Certified neonatal nurse practitioners
- Respiratory therapists with specialized training in the care of fragile newborns
- Dedicated NICU ambulance to ensure safe transport of premature babies from hospitals that do not have a NICU throughout Arkansas and the surrounding region
- Physical, occupational and speech therapists certified by The Neonatal Therapy National Certification Board (NTNCB)
- High Frequency Ventilation (HFV)
- Inhaled Nitric Oxide (iNo) Therapy
- Whole Body Cooling (Therapeutic Hypothermia)
- Amplitude Integrated electroencephalography (aEEG)
- Dedicated NICU dietician
- Family-centered care
- Pastoral services
- Social workers
- Guest House with hotel-like accommodations for families of critical care babies
Learn more about our NICU here.
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